Ben Tolzmann
Although my summer position at Luther Point did not allow me to interact with the campers on the same personal level as I did when I was a counselor, I got to experience something that was equally satisfying: the spiritual growth of the staff. It was amazing to watch staff members transform as the summer went on. Some counselors were very shy at the beginning of the summer, but they quickly stepped out of their comfort zones to lead different worships and participate in skits. Others found new ways of sharing their gifts and talents with the camp community. Some became more willing to share moments on their own faith journeys, which made others feel more comfortable opening up, too. Their newfound confidence rubbed off on campers and gave the campers an even better camp experience. The counselors are often named as one of the camper’s favorite parts of the summer, and with the growth I witnessed this summer, it is easy to understand why. Camper growth is obviously one of the primary purposes of camp, and it all begins with the growth of the people who spend 24 hours a day with them. The counselors at Luther Point grew by leaps and bounds over the summer, which greatly assisted this camper development. Similarly, seeing the campers evolve as the camp week goes on plays a major role in the growth of each staff member. This mutually-beneficial cycle is at the core of the camp experience, and it was truly a joy for me to be able to step back and witness it this summer. There are few things more enriching to one’s faith than being surrounded by people who are growing stronger in their own faiths, and this is one of the greatest parts of camp.
Although my summer position at Luther Point did not allow me to interact with the campers on the same personal level as I did when I was a counselor, I got to experience something that was equally satisfying: the spiritual growth of the staff. It was amazing to watch staff members transform as the summer went on. Some counselors were very shy at the beginning of the summer, but they quickly stepped out of their comfort zones to lead different worships and participate in skits. Others found new ways of sharing their gifts and talents with the camp community. Some became more willing to share moments on their own faith journeys, which made others feel more comfortable opening up, too. Their newfound confidence rubbed off on campers and gave the campers an even better camp experience. The counselors are often named as one of the camper’s favorite parts of the summer, and with the growth I witnessed this summer, it is easy to understand why. Camper growth is obviously one of the primary purposes of camp, and it all begins with the growth of the people who spend 24 hours a day with them. The counselors at Luther Point grew by leaps and bounds over the summer, which greatly assisted this camper development. Similarly, seeing the campers evolve as the camp week goes on plays a major role in the growth of each staff member. This mutually-beneficial cycle is at the core of the camp experience, and it was truly a joy for me to be able to step back and witness it this summer. There are few things more enriching to one’s faith than being surrounded by people who are growing stronger in their own faiths, and this is one of the greatest parts of camp.